MNEA HRC awards 2023 Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship

The Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship was created in memory of one of Missouri NEA's own. For more than 20 years, Gilbert Balderrama served MNEA and its members as a UniServ director. Gilbert received numerous degrees and certifications and strongly believed in furthering one's knowledge through education.

The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee awards the scholarship based on academic achievement, extra-curricular involvement, and letters of recommendation. To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must be a high-school senior of color, graduating from a Missouri public school, who has been accepted to pursue a degree at a college or university.

The MNEA Human Rights Committee is awarding the $500 2023 Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship to 

Laila Saint Christopher
Parkway North High School
Saint Louis, MO

 


MNEA Human Rights Committee
Chair: JoWanda Bozeman     
Board Liaisons: Alexander Tai   
Staff Liaison: Lisa Blaha
Committee Members: Stacy Adamson, Lisa Brown, Jennifer Clossum, Joaquin Cuni, Anyisa Evans, Thomas Greene, Carmen Hill, Francine Hill, Rachel Johnson, Kathy Pennington, Jane Sykes, Debbie Wade-Wilson

Contribute to the GBMS Scholarship Fund
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship fund, please complete the online form to set up a one-time or recurring contribution by credit card or mail a check made to “The MNEA Charitable Fund” with memo line notation of “The Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship” to Missouri NEA, ATTN: Charitable Fund, GBMS, 1810 E. Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101

The Life of Gilbert Balderrama
Gilbert BalderramaBalderrama served 14 years as a special education classroom instructor in Texas and New Mexico until 1993. As a teacher, he served as the local NEA president, bargaining chair, and grievance chair. He also served on New Mexico NEA’s Minority Caucus as Vice-Chair and Secretary. In l994, he enrolled in the NEA Intern Program for Women and Minorities and Missouri NEA hired him to be the UniServ Director for the Southeast Unit. In 1995, he transferred to the St. Louis area and remained there throughout his employment.

Balderrama continued to support and give back to the NEA intern program by not only teaching courses in the program but also by mentoring new interns as they progressed from the internship to work. His last intern group was assigned in 2015, and he was like a “mother hen” as his flock spread out into the world to become UniServ Directors in other NEA state associations.

As part of the Missouri NEA, Gilbert was active in his own staff union, the Missouri Professional Staff Organization, and just before his death, represented his union brothers and sisters on the MNEA Pension Committee. For more than 20 years during his MNEA employment, Balderrama was the staff liaison to the MNEA Human Rights Committee, and he spent many hours with the activities of that group. As a representative from MNEA, Gilbert visited several universities and talked to education students about teaching and the benefits of being part of MNEA. Balderrama received many letters of commendation from the local MNEA associations that he has served.

Gilbert Balderrama had a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas; a Master's in Special Education from Texas University in Denton, Texas; and a degree in Administration from Texas University in Denton, Texas. He also completed special certifications in Special Education—Emotionally Disturbed and Bi-Lingual Education.